Wanda’s Notebook: Personalized Journal for Wanda
A simple, pretty journal made for one person: Wanda. Her name is set in script above pink watercolor apple blossom on the cover.
- 160 lined pages
- 6" x 9" paperback
- Watercolor apple blossom cover with "Wanda's Notebook" on the front
- Printed and shipped by Amazon
What does the name Wanda mean?
Wanda is possibly from a Germanic name meaning “a Wend”, the Slavic people who lived in eastern Germany. Behind the Name says that in Polish legend Wanda was the daughter of King Krak, the legendary founder of Kraków, and that the author Ouida introduced the name to English readers with her novel Wanda (1883). Wikipedia calls Wanda a name of Polish origin and says the legend of Princess Wanda has circulated since at least the 12th century. In 1947 it was the second most popular name for Polish girls, after Maria.
Wanda nicknames and other forms
Wanda is already compact, so the sources list related forms rather than nicknames. Behind the Name gives Vonda as the English variant and Vanda as the Czech, Hungarian, Italian and Latvian form. The V spellings show how the name sounds across Europe.
Some famous Wandas
Wanda Sykes won a Primetime Emmy in 1999 as a writer on The Chris Rock Show and later appeared in Curb Your Enthusiasm and starred in The Upshaws. Wanda Jackson was among the first women to have a career in rock and roll, earning the nickname “The Queen of Rockabilly”. And Wanda Gág wrote and illustrated Millions of Cats, the oldest American picture book still in print.
Wanda through the decades
Wanda was a mid-century American favorite. US Social Security data has it 76th in the 1920s and at its best decade rank, 50th, in the 1930s. Its biggest decade by count was the 1950s, when more than 72,000 American girls were named Wanda. It was 81st in the 1960s and 197th in the 1970s, then left the top 200. Wikipedia says its best single year was 1934, at 47th.
Did you know?
Many people assume Wanda means “wanderer”, but Wikipedia says that is a popular misinterpretation. The more likely root is the tribal name of the Wends. Ouida’s novel Wanda, which brought the name to English readers, was based on the last years of the Hechingen branch of the House of Hohenzollern.
Gift ideas for a Wanda
- For a cat lover. A notebook for a name shared with the author of Millions of Cats.
- For a rockabilly fan. Playlists and records, in honor of Wanda Jackson.
- For a comedy writer. Jokes and sketch ideas, in honor of Wanda Sykes.
- For a family with Polish roots. Wanda is the princess of Kraków legend.
Who is it for and how she can use it
Whether Wanda is eight or eighty, a 6" x 9" notebook is a comfortable size: big enough to write in properly, slim enough to carry. The 160 lined pages don’t come with a set layout, so she decides what it’s for. Journal, planner, class notes, recipes, travel log or doodle book all work. And with her name on the cover, nobody will mistake it for theirs.
Why personalized works
Personalized gifts show you thought about the person, not just the occasion. A notebook with Wanda on the cover is affordable, useful every day and still feels special. It’s also a safe choice when you’re not sure of someone’s style, because everyone needs somewhere to write things down.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Wanda’s Notebook? It’s 6" x 9" (about 15.2 x 22.9 cm), with 160 lined pages in a paperback cover.
Where do I buy it? On Amazon. It’s printed on demand and shipped by Amazon, so delivery and returns go through your usual Amazon account.
Do you have other names? Plenty. If you’re shopping for more than one person, see all name notebooks and our personalized name notebooks page.
Check out Wanda's Notebook on Amazon
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